The Primary Causes of Back Pain
Back pain is a common problem across a large portion of the population, affecting up to 90% of Americans at some point in their life, according to the American Chiropractic Association. Pain in the lower back is not a specific disease; however, it is a symptom that may result from a variety of back problems. The pain is usually caused by one of the following:
- Injuries – Spinal injuries, such as sprains and fractures, can cause either acute or chronic pain. Sprains are small tears in the ligaments that support the spine, and fractured vertebrae are most often the result of osteoporosis. Pain may also occur due to more serious injuries, like accidents and falls.
- Mechanical problems – Perhaps the most common mechanical cause of back pain is a condition called intervertebral disc degeneration, which means that the cushioning discs located between the vertebrae of the spine are breaking down. As they deteriorate, they lose their cushioning ability, which can lead to acute pain if the back is compressed.
- Sciatica – If a disk herniation presses on the sciatic nerve, which travels down the spine and through the leg, it can cause a condition called sciatica, which is characterized by sharp, shooting pain through the buttock and back of the leg.
- Spinal stenosis – The name literally means “narrowing of the spine,” and it describes a condition which can cause serious pain if it pinches a nerve. Spinal stenosis can be the result of genetics, but is more commonly associated with an injury or aging that constricts the canal down the back where some of the body’s major nerves connect to extremities.
Some common treatments for back pain include:
- Physical therapy – This is the most common form of treatment, and generally involves one-on-one work with a physical therapist. The goal of the treatment is, through exercise, stretching, and proper body maintenance, to maximize restoration of movement and functional ability to parts of the body not functioning at full potential. Physical therapy usually involves elements of clinical care, as well as a home fitness plan to ensure that patients are prepared to maintain their improvements.
- Chiropractic –Doctors of Chiropractic focus on detecting and treating disorders, also known as subluxations, of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. They treat the pain by administering adjustments, or gentle thrusts, to patients’ spinal misalignments. Most often, chiropractors deal with back pain, leg pain, neck pain, joint pain, hip pain and headaches, but they can also apply their expertise in dealing with a wider variety of bodily ailments.
- Spinal Decompression – Often times the pain originates with slipped, bulging, or herniated discs in the back. Spinal decompression is administered by equipment that gently removes pressure on the spine to allow herniated discs the necessary space to re-align with the spine. The treatment releases the pressure placed on nerves in the back by the offending slipped cervical disc(s). The process is comfortable and highly adaptable to each patient’s unique body type.
The causes of back pain are usually physical, and a good physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor (also known as a physiatrist) can help to properly diagnose your problem and prescribe a treatment plan that will get rid of your pain fast. If the pain spreads down your leg or is accompanied by tingling, numbness, or weakness, it is urgent that you see a physiatrist immediately.
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